...can't afford a lawyer. How do I plead? Basically I was with someone who was smoking weed, the police came, the weed was handed to me and my instinct was to try and hide it. The week didn't belong to me and I was not smoking it. However the place only gave me a ticket and I need to go to court now. Not the person who actually possessed the weed. It was a VERY small amount, I don't even think it would have been able to do anything to the person who was smoking it. None-the-less I got a ticket and I need to go to court. How should I plead? I can't afford a lawyer. I also heard that pleading no contest is as bad as pleading guilty? What should I do? Also, I did try to explain the situation to the police before they gave me the ticket but they wouldn't even let me talk.
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Charged with possession of a very SMALL amount of weed, I'm innocent but...
- Thread starter Norah
- Start date
Hello,
Because the weed was handed to you and you tried to hide it then you were technically at least in possession of it and you also knew it was being smoked by your friend. However technical it all sounds you are responsible.
The problem is every prospective convict tries to plead innocence and perhaps genuine cases like yours are seen as just another lying criminal trying to get off without punishment. In my opinion you must plead innocent if you are innocent of the crime. If convicted your punishment will not amount to very much. I think you should encourage your friend to quit. It has gotten both of you into trouble!
Because the weed was handed to you and you tried to hide it then you were technically at least in possession of it and you also knew it was being smoked by your friend. However technical it all sounds you are responsible.
The problem is every prospective convict tries to plead innocence and perhaps genuine cases like yours are seen as just another lying criminal trying to get off without punishment. In my opinion you must plead innocent if you are innocent of the crime. If convicted your punishment will not amount to very much. I think you should encourage your friend to quit. It has gotten both of you into trouble!
If this part is true....
'the weed was handed to me and my instinct was to try and hide it'
Then this part is NOT true....
' I'm innocent'
The weed was in your possession, regardless of you smoking it, wanting it, asking for it, or anything else. They cited you for possession, by your own admission, you WERE in possession.
If you want to fight it, contact an attorney, you may be able to get it dropped, or at least get deferred adjudication.
'the weed was handed to me and my instinct was to try and hide it'
Then this part is NOT true....
' I'm innocent'
The weed was in your possession, regardless of you smoking it, wanting it, asking for it, or anything else. They cited you for possession, by your own admission, you WERE in possession.
If you want to fight it, contact an attorney, you may be able to get it dropped, or at least get deferred adjudication.